Donovan introduced as Stingers Head Coach

boivin-donovan

*******UPDATED FEB 11/14 @ 10:30AM EST*********

The Concordia Stingers have introduced Mickey Donovan as their new Head Coach in a press conference held this morning.

Donovan becomes the fifth head coach in the 40 year history of the Stingers football program.

Most recently, Donovan was the Defensive Coordinator of the McGill Redmen, a position he was appointed to in 2011.

Previous to the Redmen, he completed a four year stint with the Western Mustangs.  During his time there, Donovan served in different capacities including Linebackers Coach, Special Teams Coordinator, Recruiting Coordinator and Defensive Coordinator.

Moreover, the native of Laconia New Hampshire previously guest instructed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, was Special Teams Coordinator of Team Canada’s under-19 squad at the 2009 IFAF World Junior Championships in Columbus, Ohio and was Defensive Coordinator of Team Ontario West’s entries at Football Canada Cups in Wolfville, Nova Scotia (2010) as well as Lethbridge, Alberta (2011).

Donovan began his coaching career in 2006 as an intern with NCAA Division 1’s University of New Hampshire.

As a player, Donovan played the linebacker position with NCAA Division 1 team, University of Maine.  Later, he transferred over the Stingers where he enjoyed a successful CIS career.  For his exceptional play, the former Stingers alumni was selected as RSEQ’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player twice, awarded the President’s Trophy in 2004 as the CIS’ Top Defensive Player and has been selected as an All-Canadian.  He served as Captain of the Stingers.  He ended his playing career in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

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Director of Recreation and Athletics Patrick Boivin is pleased to announce the appointment of Mickey Donovan as the new head coach of the Concordia Stingers football program.

“I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to have Mickey take over the leadership of the Concordia Stingers,” Boivin said. “I believe together we can take our team to the next level and  give our student-athletes a high quality university football experience, while ensuring their success both on and off the field.

“He has impressed me with his passion for our institution and the program, his knowledge of the game and his insight into the reality faced by today’s student-athletes.”

Donovan becomes only the fifth head coach in the 40-year history of Concordia football. He replaces Gerry McGrath who announced his retirement last fall after 22 seasons as an assistant coach and head coach with the Stingers.

“It feels like I’m coming home,” Donovan said. “I think it’s special to be back at my alma mater. I’m looking forward to making great things happen with the Concordia football program.”

Bio

Donovan returns to his alma mater where he was one of the most accomplished players to ever wear the maroon and gold. He was a linebacker with the Stingers for three seasons – 2002 through 2004, and he graduated with a BA in Leisure Sciences in 2006.

He was a two-time Quebec all-star, a two-time CIS all-Canadian and he won the Presidents’ Trophy as the top defensive player in Canadian university football in 2004. He closed out his career with 130 solo tackles and 46 assists for a total of 153 in just 19 games. He went on to join the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2005, but suffered a knee injury ending his playing career the following year.

His coaching career started with an internship at the University of New Hampshire in 2006. He joined the Western Mustangs in 2007 to coach linebackers. During his four years with the Mustangs, he handled special teams, the defensive front seven and served as the team’s recruiting co-ordinator.

Donovan, who was a guest coach at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp in 2011 and the Toronto Argonauts in 2013, has also served as a special teams co-ordinator for the Canadian under-19 team at the 2009 world junior championship, as well as the defensive co-ordinator for Team Ontario West at the Canada Cup tournament in 2010 and 2011.

In November of 2011, Donovan joined the McGill Redmen program as assistant head coach and defensive co-ordinator.

He moves to Concordia immediately where he will take on the challenges of a head coach for the first time.

Years               Head Coach                Conference Record

1975-‘77        Doug Daigneault         8-12-1

1978-‘88          Skip Rochette             26-47-3

1989-‘99          Pat Sheahan                48-33-1

2000-’13          Gerry McGrath          59-56

2014                   Mickey Donovan

 

(Source:  Concordia Stingers Sports Information)

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